The mystery surrounding a coordinated attack involving exploding communication devices used by Hezbollah in Lebanon has deepened as Taiwan and Bulgaria deny any involvement in the supply chain of the devices. The attacks, which occurred earlier this week, resulted in 37 deaths and nearly 3,000 injuries, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.
The deadly blasts, which targeted thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives, are suspected to have been orchestrated by Israel, according to security sources. Israel has not officially commented on the explosions. However, the attacks have raised questions about how and where these devices were weaponized and distributed, with investigations now spanning multiple countries, including Taiwan, Bulgaria, Norway, and Hungary.
Taiwanese authorities were quick to distance themselves from any potential link to the explosive devices. Gold Apollo, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of communication equipment, stated that it did not produce the pagers used in the attack. The company also clarified that a Hungarian company, BAC Consulting, was authorized to use its brand for product sales in certain regions. Taiwan's Economy Minister, Kuo Jyh-huei, emphasized, "The components, mainly low-end IC (integrated circuits) and batteries, were not made in Taiwan," adding that the matter is under investigation by judicial authorities.
In Bulgaria, local media reports initially implicated Sofia-based Norta Global Ltd. in the sale of the pagers to Hezbollah. However, Bulgaria's state security agency, DANS, refuted these claims, stating that no pagers used in the attack were imported to, exported from, or manufactured in Bulgaria. The agency also confirmed that neither Norta nor its Norwegian owner had traded in such devices within Bulgaria's jurisdiction.
The involvement of Norta Global, an innovative consulting and technology services firm, has come under increased scrutiny. Its founder, Rinson Jose, a businessman born in India and residing in Oslo, has reportedly gone missing since the attacks. According to the Daily Mail, Jose disappeared after "inadvertently" assisting in the plot, though the nature of his involvement remains unclear. Neighbors in Oslo reported that Jose's residence appeared abandoned, and his colleagues at Norwegian media conglomerate NHST have been unable to contact him since Tuesday, the day the pagers exploded.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the origins of the devices has turned toward Taiwan. Prosecutors in Taipei have questioned the founder of Gold Apollo, Hsu Ching-kuang, as well as Teresa Wu, an employee involved in the deal with BAC Consulting. Wu, who was seen representing Gold Apollo at trade shows, declined to speak to reporters following her questioning. The Shilin District Prosecutors Office is continuing its investigation to determine if there was any involvement by Taiwanese firms.
The detonations, which rocked Lebanon earlier this week, targeted Hezbollah operatives in what Lebanese sources have described as a highly sophisticated attack. PETN, a powerful explosive compound, was reportedly integrated into the battery packs of the communication devices, making them virtually undetectable. The explosions have further destabilized an already tense region, overwhelming hospitals and leaving Lebanese citizens fearful of using electronic devices.
Hezbollah, backed by Iran, has vowed retaliation for the attacks. In a televised address on Thursday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the explosions "a declaration of war" and promised that Israel would face consequences. While Nasrallah did not specify the timing or nature of Hezbollah's retaliation, he emphasized that the group would continue its operations in solidarity with Palestinians under attack in Gaza.
The attacks have further escalated the long-standing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, which has been simmering since hostilities resumed last October. Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon intensified in the days following the pager detonations, with the Israeli military claiming it had struck more than 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers and other infrastructure sites.
International calls for de-escalation have mounted, with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) urging both sides to step back from the brink of full-scale war. "We are concerned at the increased escalation across the Blue Line and urge all actors to immediately de-escalate," said UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti.
Despite these calls, the region remains on edge. Both Hezbollah and Israel show no signs of backing down, and the risk of a broader regional conflict looms large. The U.N. Security Council is set to meet to discuss the situation, as investigations into the origins of the explosive devices continue in Taiwan, Bulgaria, and beyond.
